LouFesthttp://www.loufest.com
Sept. 12-13, 2015Sun, 15 Mar 2015 23:07:47 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.1One For The Road: Relive LouFest 2014http://www.loufest.com/2014/relive-the-magic-of-loufest-2014/
http://www.loufest.com/2014/relive-the-magic-of-loufest-2014/#commentsMon, 08 Sep 2014 17:26:30 +0000http://www.loufest.com/?p=5687LouFest 2014 was an amazing celebration of good friends, food, music and a truly one-of-a-kind city. So put some aloe vera on that sunburn, get up out of that Strange Donuts-induced sugar coma(we’re looking at you, Portugal. The Man) and join us as we take a look back at the biggest and best LouFest yet!

Saturday may have gotten off to a rainy start, but sets from Colin Lake, SKATERS and San Fermin helped extend summer into September. Was it just a coincidence that the last of the clouds disappeared as Washed Out delivered a shimmering version of “Feel It All Around” on the Bud Light stage? Future Islands frontman Samuel T. Herring didn’t think so, since he took time out of the band’s emotional, sweat-drenched set to thank Ernest Greene and company for bringing the sun back out.

Looks like storms have passed and it's going to be a beautiful day tomorrow at @loufest! We take the @bmi stage just after noon.

The addition of the Shade Stage gave fans a great place to cool off while enjoying sets from Falls, Delta Spirit and Blackberry Smoke. One of the wildest sets came from Nashville punks Those Darlins, who walked across their monitors and delivered an absolutely scorching set. As they tore through songs like “In the Wilderness” and “Be Your Bro,” singer/guitarist/badass Jessi Zazu wearily explained that the band still wasn’t used to the time change after getting back from China. Of course, not even the worst jet lag could keep Those Darlins from putting on one of the rowdiest sets of the weekend.

Things heated up even more once the sun went down, as Cake and Yo La Tengo packed the Forest Park Stage with die hard fans who hung on every trumpet solo and feedback-soaked guitar freakout. Meanwhile, The 1975 brought the crowd’s screams up another octave or two with swoon-worthy hits like “Chocolate” and “Sex.” Still, nothing compared to the explosive performance by Arctic Monkeys, whose high-octane headlining set left everyone feeling like fluorescent adolescents.

If anyone was still tired from the night before, you sure couldn’t tell on Sunday. Fans made it to the park bright and early to see Ume make a triumphant return to Forest Park after their now-legendary set at LouFest 2011. Over on the other side of the park, hometown heroes Old Salt Union and Pretty Little Empire busted out acoustic guitars, banjos and mandolins as they showed the sun-baked masses what St. Louis has to offer.

While Young & Sick laid down some steamy R&B and The Districts joked about getting their van stolen the last time they were in town (they got it back!), everyone was bracing for Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. The budding New Orleans icon covered Red Hot Chili Peppers and Green Day during one of the loudest, most joyous sets of the weekend. Of course, the award for Most Surprising Cover has to go to Glass Animals, who ended their set with a delightfully off-kilter take on Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown.”

I didn't live until I saw @portugaltheman and @GROUPLOVE cover Baba O' Reilly. Absolutely incredible show from two of the best bands rn

If your ears perked up when you heard “SURFBORT” coming loud and clear from the Bud Light Stage, you weren’t alone. In addition to inviting Portugal. The Man back onstage for “Baba O’Riley” by The Who, Grouplove tried their hand at Beyonce and Jay Z’s “Drunk In Love” during one of the wildest sets of the day. They’re one of the most energetic bands on the scene, so it only made sense that they were a lead-in to the always-animated Matt & Kim. They sang! They danced! They twerked! Those bubbly Brooklynites got the whole crowd whipped into a frenzy for the moment we’d all been waiting for, the return of Outkast.

While Big Boi stayed cool and collected, Andre 3000 climbed on top of speakers and rolled on the floor, all while rocking white sunglasses, a platinum blonde wig and a black jumpsuit that read “Can One Rest in Peace and Violence?” They went hard on “B.O.B.” and “Gasoline Dreams” to start the show, performing with more intensity than MCs half their age. Joined onstage by Dungeon Family member (and pajama connoisseur) Sleepy Brown, they delivered hits like “Elevators (Me & You),” “So Fresh, So Clean” and “The Way You Move” for a career-spanning set that left no one doubting the duo’s massive impact on hip-hop.

We want to see what the festival was like through your eyes!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR, ST. LOUIS!!

]]>http://www.loufest.com/2014/relive-the-magic-of-loufest-2014/feed/0Speaking In Tongues with Roadkill Ghost Choirhttp://www.loufest.com/2014/speaking-in-tongues-with-roadkill-ghost-choir/
http://www.loufest.com/2014/speaking-in-tongues-with-roadkill-ghost-choir/#commentsFri, 05 Sep 2014 19:39:28 +0000http://www.loufest.com/?p=3946Something’s happening down in the swamps of Central Florida… With tales about “drifters, specters and violent saints,” roots rock group Roadkill Ghost Choir is making unsettling, powerful American rock that’s much darker than what you might expect from the Sunshine State. So if you still miss the dangerous side of country music, you’d better listen up. Roadkill Ghost Choir is here, and they’ve got doom and gloom to spare.

Things really took off for the band last year, when they toured with Band of Horses and played festivals like Austin City Limits and Governor’s Ball. It wasn’t long before “Beggar’s Guild” started causing some serious buzz online, taking the band from message boards to the Ed Sullivan Theater for a performance on The Late Show with David Letterman in January. After starting off 2014 with a bang, things only got more exciting with the announcement of their first full-length album, In Tongues.

Recorded in Deland, Florida and Athens, Georgia with producer Doug Boehm (Dr. Dog, Tokyo Police Club), In Tongues is a fusion of Americana and experimental indie rock. It all comes together like some unholy union of Radiohead and Creedence Clearwater Revival. One of the albums strongest tracks is “A Blow to the Head,” where frontman Andrew Shepard croons, wails, and screams like Jim James over bubbling synths and haunting pedal steel guitars.

Check out In Tongues for yourself and see why Rolling Stone compared Roadkill Ghost Choir to My Morning Jacket and Tom Petty. Their Saturday evening set on the BMI Stage is going to be one we’re talking about for years to come, so don’t even think about missing it!

]]>http://www.loufest.com/2014/speaking-in-tongues-with-roadkill-ghost-choir/feed/0Wanna Take a Chance with Glass Animals?http://www.loufest.com/2014/wanna-take-a-chance-with-glass-animals/
http://www.loufest.com/2014/wanna-take-a-chance-with-glass-animals/#commentsThu, 04 Sep 2014 20:00:34 +0000http://www.loufest.com/?p=5106ZABA.]]>If there was a Grammy Award for Best Collaboration with a Pet, Glass Animals would easily be the winner. (They’d also probably be the only nominee, but that’s besides the point.) Their album ZABA is full of far-out, experimental sounds, including frontman Dave Bayley’s pets chewing on the microphones. But don’t let that distract you, because the humans that make up Glass Animals are the real talent here.

Of course, the contributions from actual animals only make up the tip of this weird iceberg. There are lyrics about “icky, gooey wombs” and enough layers of synths, xylophones and strings to make Brian Wilson’s head spin. But the songs are all just as catchy and danceable as they are eccentric. Fusing rock, jazz and trip-hop, they create a shimmery, pulsating sound all their own.

It should come as no surprise that the band is obsessed with finding the perfect sound in the studio. Bayley has crazy stories about playing the drums with wooden spoons and trying to make his synth lines sound “like a certain species of yawning hippo.” Occasionally, they even change the environment in the studio to better suit the mood. For example, some of the album’s darkest, most intense moments were recorded with all of the lights turned off.

Paste couldn’t get enough of the “head trip of a record” that is ZABA, calling the album “bizarre, gorgeous, playful and dark.” So what are you waiting for, my little Pooh Bear? Give it a spin on Spotify and be there when they get weird on the Forest Park Stage.

Their live shows are so high energy, they could double as a cardio workout. Kim has always struggled to sit still behind her drum kit, so prepare yourself to get up close and personal when she climbs on top of her gear or goes walking across the crowd’s hands. She also runs #KimsDatingService on Twitter during the set, playing matchmaker with the most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes in the audience.

But once you get past all of the excitement, it always comes back to the music. Albums like Grand and Sidewalks are the perfect soundtrack to summer in the city, equally influenced by Devo and Dr. Dre. With their punk energy, hip-hop bombast, and brainy pop sensibilities, Matt & Kim have perfected songwriting on irresistible singles like “Daylight,”“Let’s Go” and “Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare.” Who knows what they have up their sleeve for this next album?

While we’re waiting on new music from Matt & Kim, you should check out their latest LP, Lightning. Released in 2012, it finds the band “still committed to immaturity,” which is just how we like them. Be sure to catch them as the lead-in to Outkast on Sunday night for an unforgettable one-two punch to wrap up the weekend.

]]>http://www.loufest.com/2014/lets-go-matt-kim/feed/0AJR: BORN READYhttp://www.loufest.com/2014/ajr-born-ready/
http://www.loufest.com/2014/ajr-born-ready/#commentsTue, 02 Sep 2014 14:12:23 +0000http://www.loufest.com/?p=3907Pretty much everyone with siblings has formed a family band at least once. But while most of us just drove our parents crazy by banging on pots and pans or belting along to the Space Jam soundtrack like it was nobody’s business, AJR (brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met) actually managed to take their songs out of their parents’ living room and to the top of the charts.

The brothers got their start busking in Central Park, playing covers of their favorite Jackson 5 songs for tourists. But their lives changed forever with “I’m Ready,” an infectious little pop song built around a reggae groove and a SpongeBob Squarepants sample. Recorded in their parents’ Manhattan apartment, the single and its quirky music video took the internet by storm. The next thing they knew, the band was packing their bags to tour with some of the biggest names in pop, like Demi Lovato and Hoodie Allen.

It didn’t take long for the press to catch on, and the reviews have been nothing short of glowing. In their profile on the band, The New York Post said they appealed to “fainting tweens and thoughtful music consumers alike,” while USA Today and Billboard are confidently predicting great things on the horizon for the Met brothers. Luckily, we won’t have to wait long. The guys say they’re planning on independently releasing their first LP before the end of the year.

New music is on the way, but you can still get your AJR fix with the I’m Ready EP. Catch them on the BMI Stage on Sunday and you’ll be able to brag to all of your friends about seeing pop’s next big thing before they really blew up.

]]>http://www.loufest.com/2014/ajr-born-ready/feed/0Euclid RecordsAutograph Tenthttp://www.loufest.com/2014/euclid-records/
http://www.loufest.com/2014/euclid-records/#commentsTue, 02 Sep 2014 04:48:37 +0000http://www.loufest.com/?p=5144We’re pumped to announce that Euclid Records will be joining us in Forest Park for the fifth year in a row. Like always, they’ll bring along a selection of CDs, LPs, and posters from local artists, LouFest performers, and many others. If you’re looking for that perfect one-of-a-kind souvenir, swing by one of the autograph sessions for a meet-and-greet with some of your favorite artists playing the festival.

Euclid Recommendations

Since nobody can give you the scoop on good music quite like the folks at your local record store, we checked in to see what’s in heavy rotation over at Euclid. Check out their recommendations and give us some of your own on Facebook and Twitter!

Future Islands – In Evening Air

“They’re getting a lot of buzz right now because of the David Letterman performance and their new record Singles is really good, but In Evening Air is perfect from start to finish. This time, as opposed to just touring with electronics and a bass player, they’ve got a real drummer now. That’s what I’m most excited about their live show. Samuel Herring is a powerhouse onstage. He’s an inspiration to watch. I’ve seen them in some really small settings and I think they’re perfect for a big one.”

Washed Out – Within and Without

“I’ve never seen him – er, them – live and I don’t know what his setup is like, but I’m really excited for Washed Out. The first record that came out on SubPop, Within and Without, was just phenomenal. It’s kind of dancy, but a lot of times the songs are really mellow and dreamy.”

Autograph Session Schedule

The Euclid Records tent will also be home to autograph sessions all weekend long, giving you a chance to rub elbows with Grouplove, Moon Taxi, an all of your other favorite LouFest artists. Check out this year’s lineup and get in line early to guarantee your spot!

Saturday

Kins – 1:30

Colin Lake – 1:30

San Fermin – 2:15

Falls – 3:00

Skaters – 3:30

Washed Out – 4:00

Alanna Royale – 5:00

Delta Spirit – 7:00

Yo La Tengo – 7:00

Cake – 8:45

Blackberry Smoke – 9:00

Sunday

The Districts – 3:00

Marc Scibilia – 4:45

Moon Taxi – 4:45

Cherub – 6:45

Lettuce – 6:45

Grouplove – 8:00

Vintage Trouble – 8:30

Kopecky Family Band – 8:45

]]>http://www.loufest.com/2014/euclid-records/feed/0Gonna Leave a Scar: Meet Blackberry Smokehttp://www.loufest.com/2014/gonna-leave-a-scar-meet-blackberry-smoke/
http://www.loufest.com/2014/gonna-leave-a-scar-meet-blackberry-smoke/#commentsFri, 29 Aug 2014 17:18:54 +0000http://www.loufest.com/?p=3970How does that saying go? “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” Well, that must mean things are really heating up down in Georgia, because it’s getting pretty hard to miss Blackberry Smoke these days. After spending the better part of a decade slugging it out on the road and signing with Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Records, Atlanta’s favorite blue-collar rockers have become a favorite among those who like their country with a little grit.

One listen to Blackberry Smoke and it’s clear that their sound owes just as much to classic rock as it does country. In the past few years alone, they’ve toured with legends like ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd and stood strong with their rebellious country contemporaries like Eric Church and Zac Brown Band. They’ve even become a familiar face on the festivalcircuit, blowing away rock crowds with their famously hard to handle live shows.

While they’ve released an impressive body of work, the best place to start with Blackberry Smoke has to be their latest album, 2012′s The Whippoorwill. These guys are just like a good bourbon, only getting better with age. American Songwriter appreciated the album’s diverse influences and said the band proved that they were “deeper than just whiskey guzzlin’ rockers with twangy guitars and bad attitudes.” Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

Check out the songs on Whippoorwill, where Blackberry Smoke prove they can be sweet as a peach or burn like a swig of grandpa’s cough medicine. Don’t miss one of this year’s most high octane sets when they take over the Shade Stage on Saturday!

The Trolley will run all day Saturday & Sunday until the end of the Festival, plus it will take you back to the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station at the end of the night.

Riding A Bike?

Bike Down to LouFest! Bike parking is located near the box office at the intersection of Grand and Jefferson and also near the south entrance; be sure to bring your own lock.Randy’s Recycled Cycles Repair Shop will be on hand for minor repairs and basic needs.

Road Closures

Street closures around LouFest will take place on Saturday, September 6 and Sunday, September 7.

Rental Lockers and Cell Charging

Keep yourself light on your feet by using one of our lockers to stow your personal items. We provide safe, secure, and easy storage with ALL-DAY access so you can come and go to your locker at any time! Reserve your locker in advance.

Battery running low? Cell charging is available next to the lockers for $5 a day.

The Map

Get familiar with the festival layout and know exactly where your favorite bands will be performing all weekend long with the Official 2014 Map!

From stages and bike parking to water stations, lockers and beverage outposts, scope it out now so you have your weekend plan of attack!

Merch Online

VIP For The People

Our friends at Chipotle have put together a custom built VIP tent with FREE TACOS AND DRINKS. Register before the Fest for your chance to win entry!

LouKidz

Bringing your little guy or gal to LouFest? You’re in luck, because LouKidz will be back and better than ever as a sweet hangout just for them!

Stop by anytime before 5PM both days of the fest to enjoy family-friendly activities including music, dancing, face painting, crafts and more! Plus, kids 12 and under get into LouFest free of charge with a ticketed adult!

Lost & Found

During the Festival, turn in or look for lost items at the Information booth near the entrances. After LouFest, you can report lost belongings on our Lost and Found page. We will contact you with pick-up instructions if your item is found. Items will be held for 30 days and then donated to charity.

Festival FAQs

Don’t see your question in these tips? We’ve got you covered over on our FAQ page. You can also contact us directly via email at info@loufest.com]]>http://www.loufest.com/2014/this-is-how-we-lou-it-festival-tips/feed/0The Year of Cherubhttp://www.loufest.com/2014/the-year-of-cherub/
http://www.loufest.com/2014/the-year-of-cherub/#commentsThu, 28 Aug 2014 16:09:35 +0000http://www.loufest.com/?p=3941In the last few years, Nashville’s thriving punk and indie scenes have brought a much-needed breath of fresh air to Music City. Independent labels, rock clubs, and record stores have made it easier than ever for local rockers to make great music on their own terms, and the reign of slick mainstream country is beginning to fade. But while the days of big belt buckles and sequined nudie suits may be a distant memory, one gruesome twosome is representing Nashvegas in their own flashy, tacky way. Fueled by Italian disco and champagne, the guys in Cherub would like to welcome you to the new Nashville.

A lot of Cherub’s early success can be chalked up to making their early EPs available for free online and touring like crazy. After years on the festival circuit and opening for everyone from Pretty Lights to Sound Tribe Sector 9, the guys developed a dedicated following of their own. Of course, the fact that the clip for “Doses and Mimosas” became a viral hit on YouTube certainly didn’t hurt. A few million views led to a few million calls from record labels, and Cherub had finally made it.

The band satisfied everyone’s appetites this spring when they followed up their Antipasto EP with Year of the Caprese. Their major label debut, the album has drawn comparisons to everyone from Chromeo to funk pioneers Zapp, but the band probably put it best when they said it sounds like “The Bee Gees and DJ Screw playing at Aaliyah’s birthday party.” But while there’s no doubt that a lot of what they do is tongue-in-cheek, Cherub is totally serious when it comes to keeping things funky and danceable.

They were definitely feeling Year of the Caprese over at Rolling Stone, praising its “combination of intelligence, humor, rhythm and hooks galore.” Have a little taste for yourself and be sure to come back for second helpings at LouFest.

]]>http://www.loufest.com/2014/the-year-of-cherub/feed/0The Return of Umehttp://www.loufest.com/2014/the-return-of-ume/
http://www.loufest.com/2014/the-return-of-ume/#commentsTue, 26 Aug 2014 20:28:29 +0000http://www.loufest.com/?p=5072Playing a festival set early on Sunday is one of the greatest challenges a band can face. It takes a lot to fire up a tired, sunburned crowd on the last day of their weekend, but it’s not impossible. When Ume made their LouFest debut in 2011, they woke everyone up with an explosive performance that could have been measured on the Richter Scale. This year they’re going to make history as the first band to play LouFest more than once, and they’re not holding anything back.

Their 2011 set is a thing of legend at this point. In addition to setting the merch record that weekend, they had every music fan in the entire city buzzing about them. Riverfront Times called them “a band that breaks both hearts and hearing aids,” while KDHX lost their minds over frontwoman/guitar hero Lauren Larson, who “stirred up the humidity with kicks and showers of headbangs while wringing the neck of her guitar for muscled-up, nerve-twitch melodies.”

Lauren Larson brought the riffs and hair whips to Ume’s legendary set at LouFest 2011. Photo by Corey Woodruff.

Since their last time in Forest Park, Ume has opened for Jane’s Addiction, Helmet and Blondie, with Lauren even joining Nancy Wilson of Heart onstage in San Francisco.

Earlier this year, the band released Monuments, their highly-anticipated sophomore album recorded with Adam Kasper (Queens of the Stone Age, Nirvana) in Seattle. Alternating between punishing hard rock and shimmery shoegazing, Lauren said the goal was to “capture in a sincere and sonically heavy way that freedom we feel live.”